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Treesearch

Visual Absorption Capability

Informally Refereed
Download (PDF 134 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/27575.pdf

Abstract

Visual absorption capability (VAC) is a tool to assess a landscape's susceptibility to visual change caused by man's activities. This paper explores different descriptive approaches to VAC and addresses in depth the development of the VAC process used on the Klamath National Forest. Four biophysical factors were selected to assess VAC for the lands within the Klamath National Forest. These factors are slope, vegetative pattern and screening, site recoverability, and soil color contrast with the surrounding landscape. By combining this VAC analysis with Forest Service visual quality objectives, it has been possible to develop suitability assessments for Forest Service activities which impact the visual resource.

Parent Publication

Citation

Anderson, Lee; Mosier, Jerry; Chandler, Geoffrey. 1979. Visual Absorption Capability. In: Elsner, Gary H., and Richard C. Smardon, technical coordinators. 1979. Proceedings of our national landscape: a conference on applied techniques for analysis and management of the visual resource [Incline Village, Nev., April 23-25, 1979]. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-35. Berkeley, CA. Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Exp. Stn., Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture: p. 164-171